NJGreenBudd's '87 325e eta Custom Exhaust - My First Exhaust Build
I had purchased this 325e a few weeks ago, though the exhaust wasn't the stock equipment it wasn't in very good shape and sounded like poo. The aftermarket systems currently available cost almost as much as what I paid for the car. None the less I wanted a superior exhaust with good flow, nice tone and lightweight.
I opted to build my own exhaust system, it would be the first custom exhaust I had built but I was looking forward to it. I managed to find the high flow catalyst and muffler on ebay for less than expected, $20 for the cat and $40 for the muffler. The exhaust pipe and bends were purchased from a local auto parts store for another $40. I had a spare EuroSport exhaust tip from my volvo exhaust. Total expenses came to $100, add some welding wire and some beers.
It was pretty straight forward, I adapted from the stock pipe after the Y into the new 2.25" pipe, straight through the cat and past the diff. To get around the axle I started with two 90' bends and a 45' elbow and had to cut and weld them into the correct lengths and shape. The muffler and tip finished up rounded out the work. I am happy with the end result and hope other might find this useful.
Here are some pics from the project:
Old System:
Catalyst, Muffler and Tip
First Weld
Cat and Piping
Muffler and Tip
Getting There
New and Old Side by Side
On The Car
Short Video of Idle and Rev
I opted to build my own exhaust system, it would be the first custom exhaust I had built but I was looking forward to it. I managed to find the high flow catalyst and muffler on ebay for less than expected, $20 for the cat and $40 for the muffler. The exhaust pipe and bends were purchased from a local auto parts store for another $40. I had a spare EuroSport exhaust tip from my volvo exhaust. Total expenses came to $100, add some welding wire and some beers.
It was pretty straight forward, I adapted from the stock pipe after the Y into the new 2.25" pipe, straight through the cat and past the diff. To get around the axle I started with two 90' bends and a 45' elbow and had to cut and weld them into the correct lengths and shape. The muffler and tip finished up rounded out the work. I am happy with the end result and hope other might find this useful.
Here are some pics from the project:
Old System:
Catalyst, Muffler and Tip
First Weld
Cat and Piping
Muffler and Tip
Getting There
New and Old Side by Side
On The Car
Short Video of Idle and Rev
Comment